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Deciding factors on a Mule Deer

I've been out scouting and have found some nice bucks. The area I drew will have some great trophy potential. I have two bucks on my list for this area to take if they show up during my season. While I've been scouting I've come acrossed 4 3x3 bucks that are pushing 30" wide.

My thoughts are this. I had a 180" buck or better in my mind as a bench mark, but with the chance at a 30" wide buck now I'm reconsidering things.

I have till Oct5 for opening day and a month to hunt so I've got a ton of time to find what I want to take. But with seeing so many 30" bucks I have to think I would be foolish to pass up one of them even tho they are only 3x3's.

All those deer you mentioned are awesome bucks i would take any of them if i saw them but have never taken much for big mule deer yet. i would stick to what your goal is since your unit will have some great trophy potential. It would be tough for me not to shoot a 30" wide mule deer if it gave me the shot opportunity. What do you have on your wall now?? Maybe you don't have a 30" wide one and that would be an awesome deer. I wish i had that problem deciding on what what deer to go after. Good luck and post pics when u get the big one.

All those deer you mentioned are awesome bucks i would take any of them if i saw them but have never taken much for big mule deer yet. i would stick to what your goal is since your unit will have some great trophy potential. It would be tough for me not to shoot a 30" wide mule deer if it gave me the shot opportunity. What do you have on your wall now?? Maybe you don't have a 30" wide one and that would be an awesome deer. I wish i had that problem deciding on what what deer to go after. Good luck and post pics when u get the big one.

Don't have the 30" buck yet. That's why I think I should really consider it.

I'm with you. As long as I am bettering my previous bucks, why not. I have quite a few years to hunt, so I can take little steps and be pretty happy. I don't put in for long shot draws, but that could sure make a difference.

IKIC, you guys hear me in the texts and when we talk and BS. And on here how I talk about score. I usually talk about that before hunting. But the truth boils down to, when I am out there. If I find a buck and I think he looks cool, or I would be happy with him he may be a small 4 point.

To me when I see a buck I know I want him. Score doesn't come into the picture until later. The buck I shot last year looked huge to me. He looked 170" and was only a 150 class buck. But guess what, that 170 figure never reached my mind until he had an arrow in him. I knew he was what I wanted and score didn't determine that I wanted to take him

IKIC, you guys hear me in the texts and when we talk and BS. And on here how I talk about score. I usually talk about that before hunting. But the truth boils down to, when I am out there. If I find a buck and I think he looks cool, or I would be happy with him he may be a small 4 point.

To me when I see a buck I know I want him. Score doesn't come into the picture until later. The buck I shot last year looked huge to me. He looked 170" and was only a 150 class buck. But guess what, that 170 figure never reached my mind until he had an arrow in him. I knew he was what I wanted and score didn't determine that I wanted to take him

I agree with this. When I see a deer within range I almost always just know I want him or I don't. If you're looking at him and trying to convince yourself that he is bigger than he really is, then don't shoot. If your blood starts pumping and your hands start to shake: Shoot now! That is your buck. I think the size deer that does that to you is definitely different for everyone. For me it's an old mature buck. Width is good, big body and massive antlers are better. Good luck either way.